Radio: Tests indicate Minnesota pelicans exposed to contamination in Gulf — Concern for what it could do to population — Dispersant chemicals in 1/3 of birds — Official: ‘Really interesting’ results coming in

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a second round of testing indicates migrating pelicans picked up oil spill contaminants in the Gulf of Mexico.

Earlier testing found contaminants in pelican eggs. A new round of tests on bill knobs, which pelicans shed each year, found oil related contaminants in three-fourths of the birds tested. Oil dispersant chemicals were found in one-third of the birds.

“Now that we know that’s present it’s going to raise some questions about what might this be doing to the population of pelicans in the long term in terms of reproductive success or longevity or hatchability of the eggs,” said DNR non-game wildlife program supervisor Carrol Henderson.

He said the test results don’t definitively prove pelicans were contaminated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“One of the aspects of good research is not to jump to conclusions,” Henderson said. “We’ve got some really interesting results starting to come in. But we need to continue this work before we draw any conclusions on what the long-term impacts might be.” [...]

6 comments

6 comments to Radio: Tests indicate Minnesota pelicans exposed to contamination in Gulf — Concern for what it could do to population — Dispersant chemicals in 1/3 of birds — Official: ‘Really interesting’ results coming in

That is just BS that they can't say it's Deepwater Horizon! And yeah, I really dislike the phrase "really interesting." It almost sounds like they are happy and excited instead of disturbed and disgusted! I am very upset by this news….. this proves that the damage done to the birds is not just local to that area. I hope our pelicans here in Florida are safe and hope that those they were able to save … won't be having further problems with their offspring. Very sad news.

Oil Spill Causes Short-Term Damage to Rat DNA, Implications for the BP Gulf oil spill?
“The new study of rats shows a direct link between respiratory exposure to compounds discharged by the fuel and damage to genetic material. In order to analyse the possible alterations to the DNA and its repair processes, the researchers took blood samples from each animal and carried out cytogenic tests.”

Breaking! BP Gulf disaster -Food chain damage likely on the way
Kristiansen said that the worst of the damage from the oil remains buried in such sub-sand deposits would likely be subsurface ecosystems.

“The damage that we don’t see could be far worse,” he said. “The subsurface ecosystem damage can damage the genetic make up of and productivity of these ecosystems.”

He said that the chemicals released by the initial spill accumulate upward in the food chain, and “reach levels above the threshold of what causes genetic damage in marine species, and may further cause cancer in seafood consuming humans.”

“If anyone is still accepting BPs assertions that this is not an environmental disaster any longer, this is an eye opener,” he added.

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